EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CREMA LAYER ON YOUR COFFEE

When you make an espresso or coffee with a coffee machine, unlike with filter coffee, such a beautiful golden brown layer appears on top. The name we use for this is the crema layer. This one is full of aromas. The perfect crema layer is nicely compact and has a pattern that is similar to a tiger print. In this blog we provide you with answers to all your questions about this layer!

HOW IS THE CREMA LAYER FORMED?

With filter coffee, the water you use to make the coffee runs slowly past the ground coffee. That coffee is ground much coarser than the grind you use for an espresso. When making an espresso, the water is pressed under great pressure through coffee that is ground much finer. In addition to the aromas, this also releases oils, sugars and small particles from the bean. Oil floats, which explains why a film forms on the coffee.

WHAT DOES A GOOD CREMA LAYER LOOK LIKE?

A lot can be deduced from the appearance of the crema layer about the quality of your cup of coffee. Look at the color. Is it very light? Then you probably have a soft bowl. The water may not have been hot enough, which means that the coffee cannot dissolve properly. And if the water has been too hot, you will see that your crema layer is very dark. If the crema layer is too light, it may also be that the coffee is not ground fine enough or that you have not tamped the coffee well enough (tamped down). If it is too dark, logically the opposite applies.

You can tell from the thickness of the crema layer what kind of coffee beans have been used. The darker the beans are roasted, the more oils and sugars have already been extracted. Another important tip: only grind your coffee beans just before you start making an espresso or coffee. The longer it has been since you ground the coffee, the thinner the crema layer will be.

The quality of your crema layer is partly determined by the quality of the coffee beans you use. With the perfect beans you will undoubtedly succeed in creating a perfect layer.